Key facts
- UNRWA faces a projected cash shortfall of over $100 million in 2026.
- The agency provides essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across five fields of operation.
- Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the occupied West Bank, warned of the threat to services and regional stability.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres described UNRWA as a critical platform for recovery and a lifeline to Palestinians.
- Since October 2023, approximately 390 UNRWA staff have been killed, and UN property has been targeted.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing a significant financial crisis, with a projected cash shortfall exceeding $100 million in 2026. Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the occupied West Bank, warned that this funding gap threatens the agency's ability to provide essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across its five fields of operation.
Friedrich emphasized that sustained international support is crucial to ensure the continuity of basic services and to help preserve regional stability, particularly in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the deteriorating conditions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. UNRWA continues its work despite facing restrictions, including a ban on its activities in East Jerusalem.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has raised serious concerns about the shortfall, calling UNRWA a "lifeline" to Palestinians and a "stabilizing force" in a volatile region. He noted that since October 2023, approximately 390 UNRWA staff have been killed and UN property has been targeted. Despite allegations against some staff in early 2024, many nations have resumed funding, though a substantial gap persists.
Despite the challenges, UNRWA remains a critical platform for recovery, institutional stability, and peace, with nearly 1.7 million people in Gaza currently dependent on its assistance. The agency has also implemented over 40 recommendations from the 2024 independent Colonna report to ensure its operations are in order.